Pneumatic suspension for vehicles.



W. H. SHANKLA ND. PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. 17,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WlT/VESSES: INVE/VIOfi/ @W ATTORNEY W. H. sHANKLAN-n. PNEUMATICSUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. '17, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

WITNESSES: WW

A TTOR/VEV WILLIAM SHANKLAND, OF ST. JOHNS, OREGON.

PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES,

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 1'7, 1911.

Application filed June 7, 1910. Serial No. 565,621;

- pneumatic cushions between the wheel axles and the vehicle body, orthe springs of the latter, if supporting-springs be used.

The details of the arrangement and construction of my invention are morereadily understood by having reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle, of the automobile type, withmy invention applied for suspending the vehicle body on the running gearas in practice; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section along the hindaxle of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1, and illustrates the operation of mypneumatic suspending means; Fig. 3 is a cross-section along the hindaxle of my vehicle, also illustrating the operation of my pneumaticsuspending means; Fig. 4 is a partial crosssection similar to Fig. 3,but illustrates a modification of the arrangement of the pneumaticsuspending means; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section on the hue AA of Fig.3 of the rear portion of the vehicle; Fig. 6 is a detail of thepneumatic cushion shown in Fig.3; and Fig. 7 is a perspective detailillustrating the arrangement of the angular lever, the oblique linkpivoting and the vertical post constituting 'a part of the devices usedin suspending the vehicle body from the cushion as shown in precedingviews.

The vehicle body, a, represents, as mentioned, a type of the automobileclass. On.

the ends of the front axle, Z), are fulcrumed the apexes c of angularlevers 03, having a short arm e and. a long arm f. The long arm f ispivotally connected to a hanger g ailixed to the bottom of the vehiclebody, a, and the short arm 6 is connected by a link It with the upperend of a vertical supporting post 2'; and said link andpost i arerespectively connected at their point of. juncture, j, to the ears 7c,projecting from the head Z of the inflated cushion m; The s'uspendingmeans on the opposite side of the vehicle are a duplicate of the nearside shown in Fig. 1, and just described.

The head Z of the inflated cushion m is provided with an inflation valveat, as common in the construction of the kind dcrated by a wall 28; or,in place of said in.-.

fluted cushion rnray be used a cushion composed of two units like a,as,illustrated in Fig. 4, each of said units being also provided withthe usual inflation valve 20. The particular arrangement of the inflatedcushion, 9', is, however, immaterial. The inflated cushion 1' issupported at its center by standards a; and secured in place by a strapy. The lateral ends of the cushion 1' are provided with heads 2, 2,having, respectively, inflation valves '11. of the usual construction,as mentioned.

The springs 4:, 5, although represented in the form of vehicle springs,may, nevertheless, be mere dummies, given the form of the usual wagonsprings merely for appearance. Said springs are mounted on the ends ofthe hind axle 6. On the springs 4, 5, are fulcrumed the apexes of thelovers 7, 8, each provided-with long arms 9 and short, arms 10. Theshort arms 10 are connected by oblique links 11 with the projecting ears12 on the heads a, 2 of the inflated cushion 1*.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the

outer ends of the long arms 9 of the angular levers are slotted, toaccommodate movement, and said ends are connected by means of pins 13 tolugs 14;, rigidly mounted on the floor of the vehicle body; and verticalposts 15 scribcd,and the opposite head 0 is connected In theconstruction last described, when a weight is imposed upon the vehiclebody, the inflated cushion 1- 1s compressed lengthwise, and thesuspending means operated as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2, in

compressed lengths of the inflated cushion 1';

' shown.

the other parts being designated. by reference characters agreeing withthose applied to similar parts in 1g. 3. J

The angular lever 8, the oblique link 1-1,

the pivotal post 15, and the'connectionsof the parts illustrated in Fig.4 are substantially a duplicate of those illustrated in Fig. 3, and suchparts have therefore been designated by the same reference characters.Nevertheless there is this difference: The construction illustrated inFig. 4 is designed for cases where elastic wagonsprings 5 are used.Under such circumstances it is not necessary that the ends-of'the longarm of the angular lever 8 be slotted in order to accommodate themovements of the parts under a load, for such movement is accommodatedby the bending inward of the elastic springs. The side walls 20,21 ofthe seatbox 22 are provided with slots 23, 23, 24, 24, to accommodatethe movement of the projecting parts of the suspending devices as On oneend of the hind axle 6 is mounted a lug 25, and on the opposite end ofthe seat-box 22 is provided a rlgid hanger 26 and a connecting link, 27,restrains the vehicle body against excessive lateral swing.

From the description above given it vaill now be clear that While it isnot objectionable that the supporting members 4, 5 be resilient springs,yet as a matter of fact rigid supports will answer equally well, sincethe springiness of the vehicle body is obtained by the neumaticsuspension means independent 0 the customary Wagon springs. I claim:

1. In a vehicle, the combination with the running gear and the body, ofmeans suspending the latter on the former and com- .prising an inflatedcushion aflixed on the vehicle bod and adapted to be compressed;perpendicular lugs on the vehicle body; bell-crank levers comprisinglong and short members, said levers fulcrumed at their apexes on theaxle ends, the ends of their long members pivoted to said lugs on thevehicle body; ears on the cushion; oblique links connecting the shortmembers of said bellcrank levers with said ears of the cushion, andperpendicular posts hinged at one end to' said ears andat the other endto said lugs on the vehicle body, the parts being so arranged that theaxes of the hinge connecwtions of said posts of the outer ends of thelong-members of'the bell-cranks and of the outer ends of said obliquelinks all lie, normally, in the same erpendicular plane.

2. In a vehicle, t e combination with the running gear andthe body, ofmeans suspending the latter on the former and comlprisin an inflatedcushion aflixed on the veicle ody andadapted to be compressedlongitudinally; perpendicular lugs on the vehlcle body; bell-cranklevers comprising long and short members, said levers fulcrumed at theirapexes on the axle ends, the ends of their lOng members pivoted to saidlugs on the vehicle body; ears on the cushion; oblique links connectingthe short members of said bell-crank'levers with said ears of thecushion, and perpendicular posts hinged at one end to said ears and atthe other end to said lugs on the vehicle body, the parts being soarranged that the axes of the hin e connections of said posts of theouter en s of, the long members of the bell-cranks and of the" outerends of said oblique links all lie, normally, in the same perpendicularplane. i

. 3. In a vehicle, the combination with the running gear and the body,of means suspending the latter on the former and comprising an inflatedcushion aflixed on the vehicle bod and adapted to be compressed;erpendicu ar' lugs on the vehicle body; )ell-erank levers comprisinglong and short members, said levers fulcrumed at their apexeson the axleends, the ends of their long members pivoted tosaid lugs on the vehiclebody; oblique links connecting the.

short members of said bell-crank levers With the outer ends of saidcushion, and perpen-

